Worm

In the Bakken oil field of North Dakota they call the new guys worms. Ferret is a worm from Alabama trying to kickstart a new life for his family while back home his in-laws whisper break-up songs in his wife Dee Dees ear. His boss a shadowy old guy called Pancrazio drags in Ferret Gene Handy and two roustabouts from Oklahoma to deal with a new meth empire on the prairie. Meanwhile a reservation cop keeps a close eye on the big picture. All Ferret wants is some easy money and the love of his family. But he quickly finds out that theres danger around every corner in every drill truck and train car. And if the machines or chemicals dont get him then the other roughnecks will. Because beneath the dirt and grease nobody is what they seem. Praise for WORM: Years from now Smith will be viewed as one of the best writers of our generation-hes just not capable of writing anything but a fantastic novel. -Les Edgerton author of The Bitch The Rapist and The Genuine Plastic Imitation Kidnapping Worm is a tremendous achievement in the portrayal of duplicity and greed in the oil boom. Smith hasnt lost his fastball and hes aiming it right at the readers head again the way it should always be. -Benoit Lelievre Dead End Follies Smith pushes the characters hard and their flaws are ruthlessly exposed...it brings forward unlikely heroes who emerge from the mire when it becomes deep enough. -Nigel Bird author of Southsiders Smiths prose is memorable and cutting; the term you serve in this book with these men is one of pure pleasure. -Rusty Barnes author of Reckoning and Rednedk Be entertained but also be warned. There is a definite human cost to every barrel pulled out of the ground something Smith makes clear with every blow in Worm. -Ben Sobieck author of The Invisible Hand